What Is Leptospirosis Risk From Floodwater?

Floodwater can pick up urine from infected animals, especially rats, and carry the bacteria into your yard, garage, or home. If you wade through that water or touch wet surfaces, the bacteria can enter your body through small cuts, scratches, or the lining of your eyes, nose, or mouth. Swallowing contaminated water also poses a risk.

The bacteria survive in warm, standing water, which is common after heavy rain. In a humid subtropical climate with hot rainy summers, floodwater can linger for days. You cannot see the bacteria, so any contact with floodwater should be treated as a potential exposure. Knowing how it spreads helps you take the right precautions.

Wear waterproof boots, gloves, and long pants when you need to enter floodwater or handle wet items. Cover any open wounds with a waterproof bandage before you start. Avoid touching your face, and wash your hands with soap and clean water after any contact. If you have to swallow water, rinse your mouth with bottled water.

For indoor areas, remove standing water carefully and dry the space as soon as possible. Throw away items that soaked up floodwater, like carpets, mattresses, or upholstered furniture. Clean hard surfaces with a disinfectant that kills bacteria. Let the area dry completely before you move back in, and keep children and pets away during cleanup.

Even after the water is gone, leptospirosis bacteria can remain on surfaces or in soil. Continue to wear gloves and boots when cleaning up debris or touching outdoor areas that were flooded. Wash your hands often, and avoid letting children play in puddles or on wet ground until the area is fully dry and disinfected.

Keep an eye on your health for a few weeks after any flood exposure. If you notice any symptoms, tell your doctor that you came into contact with floodwater. This information helps with diagnosis. Also, check your insurance policy to understand what flood damage coverage you have. Policies vary, and your insurer decides what is covered.